The Revival of Courtyard Houses in Qatar: A Policy Development Attempts

The housing typology of Qatari society has changed dramatically over the years because of the rapid urban growth in the past few decades. As a result, housing has lost various aspects such as sociocultural values, environmental and economic benefits, and particularly the loss of sufficient privacy. This thesis aims to provide a better understanding of the limitations that led to the disappearance of courtyard housing in Qatar and the effects of that loss on the Qatari community. The study discusses the importance of courtyard design in the modern context, and it presents ways and methods in which it can be revived. This thesis analyzed the parameters of several housing typologies to identify the advantages and disadvantages of each typology. The initial investigation of this thesis revealed that the detached house style creates fundamental problems for families, especially in terms of lack of privacy.The methodology was a mixed-method qualitative and quantitative approach. The research used a triangulation approach in which building policies and written sources, feedback from the public, and information from interviews were combined to provide solid, coherent results. The output of this research proposes a refinement of building regulations and design guidelines that could increase the degree of privacy while satisfying 21st-century expectations for housing. Such changes would create a livable place and improve inhabitants’ quality of life in their houses. Moreover, the courtyard design has significant positive aspects in providing new architectural and urban language that would add to the aesthetics of the house, street, neighborhood, and the whole city.